Love this club

Sydney FC kick clear on top after big win in Melbourne

Sydney FC have gone four points clear on top of the A-League table with a 3-0 win over second-placed Melbourne Victory.
A twenty minute burst by the Sky Blues ended any hope of a home win for the Victory in front of just over 30,000 fans.

The visitors had the ascendency in the 14th minute despite Melbourne starting off the more attacking side.

After some good work from Byun Sung-Hwan, defender Simon Colosimo got forward and whipped in a perfect cross for Alex Brosque who headed home for his first goal of the season.

Less than two minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Sky Blues when Mark Bridge controlled the ball with his chest in the area, before turning Rodrigo Vargas and hitting a left-footed shot past a helpless Glen Moss in goals.

In the 19th minute, Sydney FC stunned the Etihad Stadium crowd when Shannon Cole sent a pinpoint pass into the direction of Bridge who brilliantly finished from close range to make it 3-0.

After a scintillating start from Vitezslav Lavicka's side, the match petered out as the Victory attempted to find their feet and get themselves back in the contest.

The Victory almost got one back in the 66th minute when Carlos Hernandez worked his way down the right flank and crossed into Archie Thompson but the cover from Colosimo was too fierce for the striker and his volley speared wide of the mark.

Thompson went close again with 15 minutes remaining when he swung a left-foot shot from outside the area but Sydney keeper Clint Bolton was not required.

A minute later, substitute Evan Berger found space when the ball fell to him inside the area but his shot on an open goal went wide indicating that it definitely wasn't the Victory's night.

But the Victory could not even manage a consolation and the Sky Blues took all three points to assert their authority on the competition.